Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-06-02
LEVEL THE GRAVES.
PROPOSITION 70 BRAuTTYY THE SOL
DIERg SECTION IN 0AKwooD.
Correspondence Between the Secretary Of
the Memorial Association and kr.
Hill-The Bankstown Farm.

The Committee on Cemeteries met at II
o'clock yesterday morning in the Office OF
Public Charities, under the Exchange
Hotel.
The chairman, Mr.. Rowland Hill, was
authorized to sign the warrant for $40, 900
in payment for the property known as the
Bankstown farm, situated near Hollywood.
hieh' was purchased for the purpose OF
establishing q public cemetery. The City
Attorney had examined the title to this
property and pronounced the deed to 1t
valid.
CONFEDERATE GRAVES IN OAKw00D.
Amongst other matters considered by
the committee was the question OF re-
moving the headboards and levelllng the
graves Of the Confederate dead in 0ikwood
cemetery.
Some time since. when this matter was
under discussion in the committee, II was
Agreed that, IL the consent of the Ladies'
OakwOod Memorial Association could be
obtained, the committee would undertake
the work above named. The association at
first declined. subsequently the following
correspondence took place between Mrs. &.
Poythfess, sccretsry Of the association, and
Mr. Hill, chairman Of the committee:
MRS. POYTHREss's LETTER.
BIcHMoSD, May 90, 1887.
Dir. Il. HiH:
Dear Sir,-A meeting ei the Board Of
OakwOod Memorial Association was held
on Friday (2Oth), and your letter dated
MAY I'd was submitted TO it. Some OF It's
members who were unable 10 be present al
the previous meeting were in attendance,
and favored giving the proposition made
by The Committee on Cemeteries fuller
and further consideration, to which the
board agreed. and instructed me 10 confer
with you and revoke the answer conveyed
in my last communication, presumlng IL
had not vet heen submitted to the commit
tee, and ask II that body will allow the
association short time longer TO decide.
IL is hOped on the Goth (memorial-dayl
larger number Of members may be brought
together and The matter finally and satisfac-
toriy adjusted. Please let us hear from
you N fore the 30tb.
By order OF the Board.
Mrs. G. POYTuREss,
Secretary OakwOOd Memorial Association.
Mr.. HILLS REPLY.
RICHMOND, Va, May 81, 1887.
Mrs. c. PoWhresS, Secretary OGklrood
Memorial association
Esteemed Replying to yours OF
23d instant, the rejection by your as.ocia-
ton OF the proposal Of this committee 10
remove all wooden boards from the Con-
fedoTaie portion Of Oakwood, az noted in
YOUR previous communication, am conf
dent viii not be considered final by this
committee.
The work that is proposed-the plOu2hing
and seeding TO grass-eannot' be done be-
fore the autumn months; hence there Is
ample time. However, permit me to sug-
gest that your ASSOCIATION come 10 a deci-
sion in due time. so that this work can be
done this fall-proyiding, OF course, that
your association concludes tc accede TO the
proposition made by this committee.
Let me add that this committee, in this
matter, Is actuated only by the desire to
beautify the grounds, and consider this to
be the first step. This can be folio we'd by
the location of flowers in plats, tasteful
setting Of eyergreens, shrubs, trees, &C.
providing. OF course, that the City Council
will continue the appropriation each year.
Doubtless II will, when it can be seen that
It is expended in the tasteful ad0rnment Of
the graves Of the hopored dead.
Yours respectfully,
ROWLAND HILL.
The committee discussed the subject for
a short while, but deemed 1t best 10 take
no further steps in the matter until the
association Is again heard from.